THE OFFICE of the Civil Defense XI reminded the public to always have their Go Bags ready in case of any disaster.
“Dapat naa mo’y isa-isa ka go bag, per individual, asawa, anak, andaman og Go Bag, kung naa’y sunog emergency mao gamiton (You should have one Go Bag for each individual, for the wife, each for the children. If there is a fire or any emergency it can be used,” OCD XI regional director Ednar Dayanghirang said in an interview with Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday.
Dayanghirang said a Go Bag is an important symbol of preparedness in every household, with each inhabitant ready to face fire, earthquake, flood, or any other hazards.
Each emergency Go Bag should contain a flashlight and extra batteries, radio, maps/identification cards and personal documents, chargers and powerbanks, food and water, survival army knife, blankets and clothing, personal hygiene kit, medicine and first aid kit, and cash.
Over the weekend, pre-emptive evacuation was advised for areas in the Davao Region due to a tsunami advisory as towns and cities experienced a series of earthquakes and aftershocks.
The civil defense chief underscored the importance of community preparedness in times of emergency, such as earthquakes, and suggested that emergency drills must be conducted at the barangay level to empower residents.
He said that their office will initiate grassroots-level drills in coordination with local governments to address the readiness concerns raised by citizens who were recently informed about faultlines during the Walk the Fault activity in Barangay Catalunan Pequeño, Barangay Sto. Niño, and Barangay Tugbok on Nov. 20-24.
“Matag purok i-drill, importante ni para psychologically prepared ang tao aron makahibalo unsay himuon pag naay mahitabong earthquake (Each purok will undergo a drill, this is important so that the public will be psychologically prepared and will know what do in time of earthquake),” Dayanghirang said.
